This Gut Bacteria Could Help Curb Sugar Cravings

The intestinal microbiota influences our state of health. These billions of bacteria have an impact on digestion, the immune system and even metabolism. In Nature MicrobiologyChinese researchers reveal that one of them in particular is linked to our sweet cravings. They discovered this in a study conducted on human blood samples and mice.

A complex link between food cravings and intestinal bacteria

“Animals are biologically programmed to crave sugar, but an uncontrolled sugar preference can lead to heavy consumption, leading to high blood sugar and increased risk of metabolic diseases.”remind the authors in the preamble. Previous research has shown that food cravings are linked to signals sent to the brain from the gut. “However, the regulation of sugar cravings is a complex process and the role of gut microbes is unclear.”they estimate.

Low levels of Bacteroides popular associated with more sweet cravings

In their work, these scientists from different Chinese universities analyzed the blood of 18 mice suffering from artificially induced diabetes, and of 60 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The different results were compared to those of samples controls without pathology. Researchers found that diabetic mice and humans had reduced levels of FFAR4 in their blood. This protein activates the secretion of GLP-1, a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite. Then analyzing the mice’s sugar preference, they observed that it correlated with low levels of FFAR4. The latter were also associated with a lower quantity of Bacteroides popularan intestinal bacteria, and its metabolite called pantothenate.

Sugar: can intestinal bacteria regulate our impulses?

In mouse models, Chinese researchers found that pantothenate was responsible for the secretion of GLP-1 and FGF21, a liver hormone that acts directly on the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls eating behavior. They tested this association by feeding diabetic mice with pantothenate or by colonizing their intestines with B. popular These two techniques have made it possible to considerably reduce the sugar cravings of rodents. For the authors, it is possible that the bacteria could be a therapeutic avenue to reduce sugar cravings. “Further clinical research is needed to study this gut-liver-brain axis as a target for therapies that could help manage metabolic diseases.”they warn.